Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-26
TIRE L0anoN SMOKING CONCERT.
An Eye Witness Report of What 1t I.

An Eye Witness Report of What 1t Is
 Like.
 IT. c. Crawford in the New York World
 One of the features of London social life unknown in the United States is the smok- ing concert. There are several societies throughout London which give smoking con. certs. These are considered the most inter- esting forms of entertainment. Only gen tlemen attend. Evening dress is requisite The members sit about in an informal way and smoke during the rendering of good programme. It is happy combination of formality and informality. Generally these organizations are made up of men of leisure, who find an occupation in the study of the arts. One of the most noted of the fashion able amateur organizations is the Royal Anna teur Orchestral society, which holds meetings once a month during the winter in the Princes hall, Piccadilly. This is the society whose president is the Duke of Edinburgh. It is especially favored by the royal family. "Patronized" is the expression, believe, to use. The Prince of Wales always attends its concerts. It is one of the few places where he comes early and remains until the close of the programme. This society has an orches- tra of eighty members. Each member is supposed to be gentleman of leisure or of a titled family. When the Duke of Edinburgh is on duty at London he personally conducts the orchestra. Now it is under the lead of a professional Occasionally professionals as- sist during the evening in giving the differ ent numbers of the programme. but the ora chestraT work is all by amateurs and mem bers of the society.
 I attended one of these concerts of this society the other evening. A member of the society furnished me ticket, the price of which was ten shillings. Anyone can pur- chase these tickets and attend these concerts if he is known by any member of the socie~ ty. No cigars are sold in the hall. People who wish to smoke bring their cigars or cig- arettes with them. Brandy, Scotch and Irish whiskey with soda are furnished throughout the hall, upstairs and down, without any extra charge. The slang ex- London expression for taking drink is the thoroughly odious phrase of sttaking ball. " "Will you take a ball" says one heavy swell to another when he wishes him to take drink. It is the most meaningless and stupid of phrases. Generally slang has some basis of reason or ordinary suggestion, but fail to see any in this form of express sion.
 I was told that this was one of the places where the Prince of Wales came and unbent and freed himself from all formality. It was at these concerts that he placed himself on a perfect footing of equality with the members of the society. It was here that he came and sat amsng them in free and easy way, drinking his brandy and soda and smoking his cigar during the performance as if he were an ordinary visitor. It would hardly be correct to say that this represents the po- sition of the Prince of Wales at these con- certs. I don't see how more formality could be extended to anyone, and the equality spoken of was not even suggested. In the first place he came in by side entrance, at tended by his familiar, the Hon. H. Terwhitt Wilson. The prince was in plain evening dress. As he solemnly entered the entire audience arose, as does the Congress of the United States at the entrance of the Presl- dent-elect upon Inauguration day. This aus dience stood in a respectful attitude until the Prince of Wales had advanced into an open square at one end of the hall just in front ot the orchestra. The open square was lined about with sofas and seats, with table ir l the center, upon which were two vases filled with flowers. The prince took & seat upor the sofa in the center, facing the orchestra Until he sat down the audience remained standing. No one present was expected te | enter this square except upon invitation O the prince unless he were high official or O | a rank which entitled him to a familiar so
 cial relation with the prince. There was special table just beyond this square, agains